Apparatus and method for recognizing earphone mounting in portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for improving the performance of a determination of whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal, such as a portable terminal supporting a 3.5 mm earphone plug, are provided. An apparatus for recognizing whether the earphone is mounted to the portable terminal includes a common ground terminal and a switching terminal of an earphone plug receptacle for electrically connecting to each other and the same pole of an earphone plug when the earphone plug is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle, and an external output managing unit for generating an earphone mounting notification signal through a detector.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of a Koreanpatent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onDec. 8, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0120884, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an external output apparatus and methodfor a portable terminal. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to an apparatus and method for improving the performance of adetermination of whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of portable terminals is now ubiquitous among men and women ofall ages, and service providers and terminal manufacturers are competingto develop new and unique products (or services).

For example, portable terminals have now evolved into multimedia devicesthat provide various functions and services, such as a phone bookfunction, a game function, a Short Message Service (SMS), an Electronic(E)-mail service, a morning call function, a Motion Picture Expert Group(MPEG)-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer-3 (MP3) function, a scheduling function,a digital camera function, an Internet service, and the like.

Recently, portable terminals with multimedia player functions, such as amoving picture player function and an MP3 player function, have beenlaunched. Accordingly, users of the portable terminals can playmultimedia files by using the portable terminals.

However, using such multimedia functions in public places may causeinconvenience to other people. Accordingly, portable terminals areprovided with earphone capabilities in order to prevent suchinconvenience.

That is, users of portable terminals can receive music and audioservices through earphones coupled to the portable terminals withoutcausing inconvenience to other people and can receive call servicesthrough a speaker and a microphone of the earphones even when the userscannot hold the portable terminals to receive the call services.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a process of mounting anearphone in a portable terminal according to the related art.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an earphone plug and an earphone plugreceptacle of a portable terminal according to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 1A, it is assumed that the earphone plug receptacle ofthe portable terminal supports a 4-pole earphone plug.

The earphone plug receptacle includes a second terminal 101 that is acommon ground terminal, a third terminal 102 that is a microphoneterminal, a fourth terminal 103 that is a right sound terminal, and afifth terminal 104 that is a left sound terminal. The second to fifthterminals 101, 102, 103 and 104 contact the corresponding poles of theearphone plug 140. As illustrated in the right side of FIG. 1A, when theearphone plug is not mounted in the earphone plug receptacle, a sixthterminal 105 that serves as a switch terminal of the earphone plugreceptacle is connected to the fifth terminal 104 (i.e., the left soundterminal), so that the portable terminal determines that the earphone isnot mounted. When the earphone plug 140 is mounted in the earphone plugreceptacle, the ground terminal 101, the microphone terminal 102, theright sound terminal 103, and the left sound terminal 104 contact thecorresponding poles of the earphone plug 140.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a state where an earphone plug ismounted/dismounted on/from an earphone plug receptacle of a portableterminal according to the related art.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the fifth terminal 104 (i.e., the left soundterminal) includes a lower portion 104L and an upper portion 104U.Herein, the lower portion 104L and an upper portion 104U may alwaysremain in contact with each other or may only come into contact witheach other when the earphone plug 140 is mounted in the earphone plugreceptacle. When the earphone plug 140 is mounted in the earphone plugreceptacle, the lower portion 104L of the fifth terminal 104 is not incontact with the sixth terminal 105 (i.e., the switching terminal) asshown in the area denoted by 150. Here, when the earphone plug 140 ismounted in the earphone plug receptacle, the lower portion 104L of thefifth terminal 104 may be in contact with the upper portion 104U of thefifth terminal 104.

When the fifth terminal 104 and the sixth terminal 105 are connected toa comparator (not illustrated) and the fifth terminal 104 and the sixthterminal 105 are not in contact as shown in the area denoted by 150, thecomparator generates a low signal to recognize that the earphone ismounted.

The left side of FIG. 1B illustrates the state where the earphone plug140 is not mounted in the earphone plug receptacle and the lower portion104L of the fifth terminal 104 is in contact the sixth terminal 105.

However, as illustrated in the right side of FIG. 1B, when the earphoneplug 140 is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle, the lower portion104L of the fifth terminal 104 is not in contact with the sixth terminal105. Here, the lower portion 104L of the fifth terminal 104 may be incontact with the upper portion 104U of the fifth terminal 104.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the portable terminal determines ifthe earphone plug is mounted by detecting whether there is contactbetween the fifth terminal 104 and the sixth terminal 105. However, ifforeign substances are caught between the fifth and sixth terminals, theportable terminal determines that the earphone plug is mounted andoperates the portable terminal in an earphone mode instead of performinga speaker output operation.

Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and method for accuratelydetermining when an earphone is mounted to the portable terminal andreducing the unit cost of the portable terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention isto provide an apparatus and method for improving a determination ofwhether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for determining if an earphone is mounted to a portable terminalwithout using a comparator, thus reducing the unit production cost.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for providing a structure for preventing a foreign substance frombeing caught in a terminal for determining if an earphone is mounted toa portable terminal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forrecognizing whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal isprovided. The apparatus includes a common ground terminal and aswitching terminal of an earphone plug receptacle for electricallyconnecting to each other and the same pole of an earphone plug when theearphone plug is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle, and anexternal output managing unit for generating an earphone mountingnotification signal through a detector.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forrecognizing whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal isprovided. The method includes electrically connecting a common groundterminal and a switching terminal of an earphone plug receptacle to eachother and the same pole of an earphone plug when the earphone plug ismounted in the earphone plug receptacle, and generating an earphonemounting notification signal through a detector.

Other aspects, advantages and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an earphone plug and an earphone plugreceptacle of a portable terminal according to the related art;

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a state where an earphone plug ismounted/dismounted on/from an earphone plug receptacle of a portableterminal according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableterminal for determining if an earphone is mounted to the portableterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an earphone plug receptacle of aportable terminal and an earphone plug, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state where an earphone plug ismounted in an earphone plug receptacle of a portable terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for determining if anearphone is mounted to a portable terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructionsare omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic,parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations orvariations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those ofskill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effectthe characteristic was intended to provide.

The terms “connect” or “contact” as used herein may refer to anelectrical connection or an electrical contact in addition to or insteadof a mechanical connection or a mechanical contact. Herein, anelectrical connection or an electrical contact may occur through anelectrically conductive medium.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus andmethod for improving the performance of a determination of whether anearphone is mounted to a portable terminal, such as a portable terminalsupporting a 3.5 mm earphone plug. Herein, the earphone outputs soundsgenerated by the portable terminal, and includes external output devicessuch as an external speaker and a microphone.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portableterminal for determining if an earphone is mounted to the portableterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Referring to FIG. 2, the portable terminal may include a control unit200, an external output managing unit 202, a memory unit 206, an inputunit 208, a display unit 210, and a communication unit 212. The externaloutput managing unit 202 may include a detector 204. The portableterminal may include additional units that are not illustrated heremerely for sake of conciseness. Similarly, the functionality of two ormore of the above units may be integrated into a single component.

Unlike the portable terminal of the related art where the fifth terminal(i.e., the left sound terminal) is connected or not connected to theswitching terminal, the portable terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes an earphone plug receptaclewhere the second terminal (i.e., the common ground terminal) and thesixth terminal (i.e., the switching terminal) are connected to the samepole line of an earphone plug, and the microphone terminal and the leftand right sound terminals are connected in the same manner as theportable terminal of the related art.

The control unit 200 of the portable terminal controls overalloperations of the portable terminal. For example, the control unit 200processes and controls voice communication and data communication. Inaddition to the general functions, and when the second terminal (i.e.,the common ground terminal) and the sixth terminal (i.e., the switchingterminal) are connected through the same pole line of the earphone plug,when the microphone terminal and the left and right sound terminals areconnected to the corresponding pole lines, the control unit 200determines that the earphone plug is mounted in the earphone plugreceptacle of the portable terminal.

Also, when the second terminal (i.e., the common ground terminal) andthe sixth terminal (i.e., the switching terminal) are disconnected afterbeing connected through the same pole line of the earphone plug ormaintain the disconnected state, the control unit 200 determines thatthe earphone plug is not mounted in the earphone plug receptacle of theportable terminal.

The external output managing unit 202 includes an earphone plugreceptacle capable of having the earphone plug mounted therein. Asdescribed above, the earphone plug receptacle has the second terminal(i.e., the common ground terminal) and the sixth terminal (i.e., theswitching terminal) that are connected to the same pole line of theearphone plug, and the microphone terminal and the left and right soundterminals that are connected in the same manner as with the portableterminal of the related art.

This can address the problem of the portable terminal of the related artwhere the earphone plug is determined as being mounted in the earphoneplug receptacle when a foreign substance is caught between the switchingterminal and the left sound terminal.

The external output managing unit 202 includes the detector 204 with theswitching terminal. The detector 204 generates a low signal when thecommon ground terminal contacts the switching terminal (that is, whenthe earphone plug is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle).

On the other hand, the external output managing unit 202, via thedetector 204, generates a high signal when the common ground terminaldoes not contact the switching terminal (that is, when the earphone plugis not mounted in the earphone plug receptacle).

Accordingly, the external output managing unit 202 can determine if anearphone is mounted by determining whether the signal of the detector204 is in a high state or a low state.

The detector 204 of the external output managing unit 202 generatessignals according to the earphone mounting/dismounting states. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the detector 204 isconnected to the switching terminal. When the earphone plug is mountedon the earphone plug receptacle, the detector 204 generates the lowsignal. On the other hand, when the earphone plug is disconnected fromthe earphone plug receptacle, the detector 204 generates the highsignal.

The memory unit 206 includes, for example, Read-Only Memory (ROM),Random-Access Memory (RAM), flash ROM, and the like. The ROM stores avariety of reference data and microcode (i.e., code) of a program forthe process and control of the control unit 200 and the external outputmanaging unit 202.

The RAM is a working memory of the control unit 200, which storestemporary data that are generated during the execution of variousprograms. The flash ROM stores a variety of updatable data such as aphone book, an outgoing message, and an incoming message.

The input unit 208 numeric keys of digits 0-9 and a plurality offunction keys, such as a Menu key, a Cancel (delete) key, a Confirmationkey, a Talk key, an End key, an Internet connection key, Navigation keys(or Direction keys), character input key, and the like. The input unit208 provides the control unit 200 with key input data that correspondsto a key pressed by a user.

The display unit 210 displays numerals and characters, moving pictures,still pictures and status information generated during an operation ofthe portable terminal. The display unit 210 may be a color LiquidCrystal Display (LCD), an Active Mode Organic Light Emitting Diode(AMOLED), and the like. If the display unit 210 has a touch input deviceand is applied to a touch input type portable terminal, it can be usedas an input device.

The communication unit 212 transmits/receives Radio Frequency (RF)signals inputted/outputted through an antenna (not illustrated). Forexample, in a transmitting (TX) mode, the communication unit 212channel-encodes, spreads and RF-processes TX data prior to transmission.In a receiving (RX) mode, the communication unit 212 converts a receivedRF signal into a baseband signal and despreads and channel-decodes thebaseband signal to restore the original data.

The control unit 200 of the portable terminal may also be configured toperform the functions of the external output managing unit 202. Althoughseparate units are provided for respective functions of the control unit200, the control unit 200 may also be configured to perform all or someof the functions on behalf of such separate units.

A description has been given of an apparatus for improving theperformance of a determination of whether an earphone is mounted to aportable terminal, such as a portable terminal supporting a 3.5 mmearphone plug. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method forimproving the performance of a determination of whether an earphone ismounted to a portable terminal, such as a portable terminal supporting a3.5 mm earphone plug.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a process for mounting anearphone in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an earphone plug receptacle of aportable terminal and an earphone plug, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a second terminal 301 (i.e., the common groundterminal) and a sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) areconnected to the same pole line of the 4-pole earphone plug 320, and amicrophone terminal 302 and left and right sound terminals 304 and 303are connected in the same manner as that of the portable terminal of therelated art.

When the earphone plug 320 is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle,the switching terminal 305 and the common ground terminal 301 areconnected to the same pole line of the earphone plug 320 and themicrophone terminal 302 and the left and right sound terminals 304 and303 are connected to the corresponding pole lines. The portable terminalcan determine if an earphone is mounted according to theconnection/disconnection of the ground terminal 301 and the switchingterminal 305 which together are shown in the area denoted by 306.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state where an earphone plug ismounted in an earphone plug receptacle of a portable terminal accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3B, when the earphone plug 320 is mounted in theearphone plug receptacle of the portable terminal, the sixth terminal(i.e., the switching terminal) contacts the second terminal (i.e., thecommon ground terminal) in the area denoted by 330.

The portable terminal can determine whether an earphone is mountedaccording to whether there is contact between the second terminal andthe sixth terminal.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for determining if anearphone is mounted to a portable terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 401, the portable terminal detects aterminal for a determination of whether an earphone is connected. Inorder to determine that an earphone is mounted, the sixth terminal 305(i.e., the switching terminal) should be connected to the secondterminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal). The ground terminal 301includes a detector that detects a high signal or a low signal accordingto the connection/disconnection with the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., theswitching terminal).

If the earphone is mounted to the portable terminal, the sixth terminal305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301 (i.e.,the ground terminal) are connected to each other and thus the signal ofthe detector becomes low. If the earphone is not mounted to the portableterminal, the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and thesecond terminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) are not connected toeach other and thus the signal of the detector is high.

In step 403, the portable terminal determines whether the sixth terminal305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301 (i.e.,the ground terminal) are connected to each other and the same pole ofthe earphone plug 320.

If the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the secondterminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) are connected to each other andthe same pole of the earphone plug 320 in step 403, the portableterminal proceeds to step 405. In step 405, the signal of the detectorconnected to the second terminal 401 (i.e., the ground terminal) is thelow level.

In step 407, the portable terminal determines whether the signal of thedetector changed from the high level to the low level.

That is, in step 407, the portable terminal determines whether the sixthterminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301(i.e., the ground terminal) are connected to each other after havingbeen disconnected from each other (that is, the signal of the detectorchanged from the high level to the low level), or whether the sixthterminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301(i.e., the ground terminal) remain in a connected state (that is, thesignal of the detector maintains the low level).

If the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the secondterminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) remain in the connected statein step 407, the portable terminal returns to step 403. This is todetermine if there are any state changes when the earphone continues tobe mounted to the portable terminal.

If the portable terminal determines that the sixth terminal 305 (i.e.,the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301 (i.e., the groundterminal) are connected to each other after having been disconnectedfrom each other in step 407, the portable terminal proceeds to step 409.In step 409, the portable terminal determines that the earphone ismounted to the portable terminal after having been disconnected from theportable terminal.

On the other hand, if the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switchingterminal) and the second terminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) aredetermined to be disconnected from each other in step 403, the portableterminal proceeds to step 411. In step 411, the signal of the detectorconnected to the second terminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) is thehigh level.

In step 413, the portable terminal determines whether the signal of thedetector changed from the low level to the high level.

That is, in step 413, the portable terminal determines whether the sixthterminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301(i.e., the ground terminal) are disconnected from each other afterhaving been connected to each other (that is, the signal of the detectorchanges from the low level to the high level), or whether the sixthterminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the second terminal 301(i.e., the ground terminal) remain in a disconnected state (that is, thesignal of the detector maintains the high level).

If the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switching terminal) and the secondterminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) remain in the disconnectedstate in step 413, the portable terminal returns to step 403. This is todetermine if there are any state changes when the earphone continues tobe dismounted from the portable terminal.

On the other hand, if the sixth terminal 305 (i.e., the switchingterminal) and the second terminal 301 (i.e., the ground terminal) aredisconnected from each other after having been connected to each otherin step 413, the portable terminal proceeds to step 415. In step 415,the portable terminal determines that the earphone is dismounted afterhaving been mounted to the portable terminal.

Thereafter, the portable terminal ends the algorithm according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionprovide an apparatus and method for improving the performance of adetermination of whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal,such as a portable terminal supporting a 3.5 mm earphone plug. Exemplaryembodiments of the present invention use an earphone plug with astructure for preventing foreign substances from being caught thereinwithout using a comparator mounted on a portable terminal, therebymaking it possible to reduce the unit production cost of a portableterminal and improve the earphone recognition rate.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for recognizing whether an earphoneis mounted to a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising: a commonground terminal and a switching terminal of an earphone plug receptacleconfigured to connect to a same pole of an earphone plug, and toelectrically connect to each other through the connected same pole whenthe earphone plug is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle; and acontroller configured to determine whether the earphone is mounted to aportable terminal using the earphone mounting/dismounting notificationsignal generated by the earphone plug receptacle, wherein the earphoneplug receptacle is configured: to generate an earphone mountingnotification signal if the common ground terminal is in a directphysical connection to the switching terminal, and to generate anearphone dismounting notification signal if the common ground terminalis not in a direct physical connection to the switching terminal.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the earphone plug receptacle continuesto generate the earphone mounting notification signal, the controller isfurther configured to determine that the earphone plug continues to bemounted in the earphone plug receptacle.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein, if the signal generated by the earphone plug receptacle changedfrom the earphone dismounting notification signal to the earphonemounting notification signal, the controller is further configured todetermine that the earphone plug is newly mounted in the earphone plugreceptacle.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the earphone plugreceptacle continues to generate the earphone dismounting notificationsignal, the controller is further configured to determine that theearphone plug continues to be dismounted from the earphone plugreceptacle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the signalgenerated by the earphone plug receptacle changed from the earphonemounting notification signal to the earphone dismounting notificationsignal, the controller is further configured to determine that theearphone plug is newly dismounted from the earphone plug receptacle. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earphone plug receptacle isfurther configured to generate the earphone mounting/dismountingnotification signal through a detector, and wherein the detector iselectrically connected to the switching terminal.
 7. A method forrecognizing whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal, themethod comprising: connecting a common ground terminal and a switchingterminal of an earphone plug receptacle to a same pole of an earphoneplug, and electrically connecting to each other through the connectedsame pole when the earphone plug is mounted in the earphone plugreceptacle; and determining whether the earphone is mounted to theportable terminal using an earphone mounting/dismounting notificationsignal generated by the earphone plug receptacle, wherein the generatingof the earphone mounting/dismounting notification signal comprises:generating a first signal through the earphone plug receptacle if thecommon ground terminal is in a direct physical connection to theswitching terminal; and generating a second signal through the earphoneplug receptacle if the common ground terminal is not in a directphysical connection to the switching terminal.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the generating of the earphone mounting/dismounting notificationsignal comprises: determining whether the common ground terminal is in adirect physical connection to the switching terminal; generating anearphone mounting notification signal through the earphone plugreceptacle if the common ground terminal is in a direct physicalconnection to the switching terminal; and generating an earphonedismounting notification signal through the earphone plug receptacle ifthe common ground terminal is not in a direct physical connection to theswitching terminal.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:determining that the earphone plug continues to be mounted in the in theearphone plug receptacle, if the earphone plug receptacle continues togenerate the first signal.
 10. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: determining that the earphone plug is newly mounted in theearphone plug receptacle, if the signal generated by the earphone plugreceptacle changed from the second signal to the first signal.
 11. Themethod of claim 7, further comprising: determining that the earphoneplug continues to be dismounted from the earphone plug receptacle, ifthe earphone plug receptacle continues to generate the second signal.12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: determining that theearphone plug is newly dismounted from the earphone plug receptacle, ifthe signal generated by the earphone plug receptacle changed from thefirst signal to the second signal.
 13. The method of claim 7, whereinthe earphone plug receptacle is further configured to generate theearphone mounting/dismounting notification signal through a detector,and wherein the detector is electrically connected to the switchingterminal.